May 17, 2010

Jennifer Hudson: From Oscar to Winnie

Jennifer Hudson has visited the film festival here twice, the first time in 2006 with a 20-minute highlights reel from the film version of “Dreamgirls.” Needless to say this was before “Dreamgirls” won her the supporting actress Oscar. Posh, influential festivals and the component parts of hype machinery were relatively new to Hudson then. In fact when the producers told her she’d be going to Cannes, she says, “I was, like: ‘You mean Canada?’"

She came back to Cannes this week. This time Hudson had a bodyguard, an enormous Gallic Lurch-like fellow with a surprisingly mellow disposition.

The occasion: an “announcement” press event, held on the beach below the majestic Hotel Majestic. Hudson and company weren’t selling a movie playing in the festival. The movie doesn’t start shooting in South Africa for another two weeks.

Already it has proven controversial.

The $15 million “Winnie” stars Hudson as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, opposite Terrence Howard’s Nelson Mandela. Financed by South African and Canadian investors, director Darrell Roodt’s drama spans decades in the life of the anti-apartheid activist, whose looming image was tarnished by her conviction (the prison sentence was later reduced to a fine on appeal) for her role in a kidnapping case, followed by fraud and theft charges.

Roodt said Monday that his film, several years in development, intends to honor its primary subject. At the same time, he said, “the script we wrote is the script we’re making.” He added: “Because we didn’t involve Winnie Mandela up front, we couldn’t afford to be lackadaisical in any way. We need to have our facts straight.”

The “Winnie” pre-production bash in Cannes was greeted by news guaranteed to keep “Winnie” in the news even before filming commenced. Several weeks ago, producer Andre Pieterse said this week, lawyers for Madikizela-Mandela told Pieterse that the subject of the film would appreciate script approval in advance. (Reportedly she was angry at the degree to which she was marginalized in the recent Clint Eastwood film “Invictus.”)

The film’s creative team didn’t go for it, and does not plan on buckling. “If the film maligns her in any way,” Pieterse told reporters in Cannes, “then there will be legal basis for her to take action.”

None of these potential storm clouds were visible on Monday, where Hudson and Howard sat for one interview after another, with the BBC and Women’s Wear Daily and dozens more, while the wind whipped along the Mediterranean and a huge bulldozer moved sand around a few hundred yards east of the photographers.

“So you came all the way from Chicago, too!” Hudson said, settling in for another round, smiling. She said she’s been working with a South African dialect coach for a week now. Director Roodt talked to Hudson about playing the title role several years ago. Filming was delayed, however, by the 2008 Chicago killing of Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew. Hudson lay low for a good while.

“Despite the tragedies in her life Jennifer remained committed to the project,” Roodt said. “She needed to heal, and find herself again. And she has.”

Co-star Howard, himself Chicago-born, said he first met Hudson on some red carpet or other, somewhere on the awards-show circuit. She hadn’t yet won the Oscar. “I remember looking at her and her not yet recognizing why she’d gotten where she was, why she was in that position.” Howard, who favors the elaborately spun metaphor, added: “Sometimes a star never sees its own reflection, because the planets are too small to reflect its light…Jennifer still has no idea how much light she has shone on young women and young men of color — of any human descent.”

Four years ago, when she came to Cannes with the “Dreamgirls” reel, “they used to try to tell me that things” were about to explode, Hudson recalls. “But I had no idea. At all.” After “Winnie” wraps filming this summer Hudson embarks on an international tour in support of her second album, due in September. “Winnie” is expected for a 2011 release.

Comments

Lemming Zone: No!!! The real deal is do you even know any talent. To say Jennifer Hudson does not have talent is making yourself look like a real hater. I don't know if anyone ever told you, but your blog carries no weight not even 1%. Jhud has millions of fans so you don't even matter!!!

I love Jhud's new and very gorgeous look. I also love her warm spirit. She is such a class act, and Jen is so humble and so down to earth. I wish this young multi-talented super star and her family nothing but peace and blessings always.

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